Apparatus for extracting water from clothes and the like



y 1931. E. B. THOMPSON 1,803,412

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING WATER FROM CLOTHES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 21,1927' Patentecl May 5, 1931 -ELMER B. THOMPSON, OF DES MOINES, IOWAAPPARATUSVFOR nx'rimc'rine WATER FROM CLOTHES AND THE LIKE Applicationfiled February 21, 1927. Serial No. 169,840.

The purpose of my invention is to provide an extractor for washingmachines and the like of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

Moreparticularly, it isgmy purpose to provide an extractor for washingmachines and the like of a type in which'the garments-or other articlesfrom which the water is to be taken are subjectedto pressure rather thanto the action of an ordinary wringer or centrifugal extractor.

Another p'urposejis toprovide an extractor of the pressure type havingmeans whereby the mechanism for subjecting the clothes to pressure isrendered inoperative, so far as further increase in the pressureisconcerned when a predetermined. pressure. has been reached.

With these and other objects in view, my

invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination ofthe various parts of my apparatus and in the practice of my method,whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fullyset forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which: v

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a washing machine showing my improvedextractor in vertical cross section.

Figure 2 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1. f

Figure 3 is a detail view, partly in section and with parts broken away,illustrating part of the operating mechanism, whereby the pressurecausing mechanism is rendered inoperative for causing further pressurewhen a predetermined pressure has been reached.

Figure 4 is a similar view of a modified form of my device. I 3 I Figure5 is a side elevation of a washing machine showing a modified formrof myextractor in vertical section; and

Figure 6 is a front elevation of a washing machine showing still anotherform of my extractor, partly in vertical section.

In the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 toindicate generally a washing machine. 7 r p In the form of the inventionshown in Figures 1 and 2, I mount on the washing machine 10 a framehaving the'spaced upright.

members 12 connected at their lower ends by the inwardly inclinedmembers 12a and the bottom connecting member 14. Extending upwardly fromthe member 14 are bracket arms 16, having at their upper ends thebearings 18 for a shaft 19.

Mounted in suitable guides 20, preferably on the brackets 16 forvertical sliding move-. ment, is an upright post or the like 22.Supported on the upper end of the post 22 is a" water receptacle 24. Across bar 26 is slid ably mounted on the uprights 12 and connected withthe receptacle 24.

The central portion of the cross bar 26 forms a disc orthe like 28,which serves as the bottom of a closed container. On the disc 28 is anupwardly extending annular rib 30 within which maybe detachably seatedthe lower end of a hollow, cylindrical 0011-,

tainer member 32.

The upper ends of the members 12 are connected by a cross bar 34 inwhich is a suitable slot 35. For coacting with the member 32, I providea plunger or disc 36, which has a stem 38. The stem 38 has a series ofspaced, angular lugs 40 so arranged that the stem may be slipped intothe slots 35 in the cross bar 34 for holding the plunger disc 36 atdifferent heights.

On the upper end of the container member 32 are drain plates 42. I

At one end of the receptacle 24 are trans-, verse compartments 44 havingopenings, 46 into the main body of. the compartment 24 controlled byspring-pressed valves 48.

The stems 50 of the valves 48 may be operated from outside thecompartments for allowing the water from the compartments 24 to flowintothe compartments'44 and thence outwardly through flexible dischargetubes 52 and 56. (See Figure 1.)

On the tub 10 is apivoted arm 51, weighted at one end and adapted to beswung to positions to engage therespective heads 50 for automaticallyopening either of the valves 48 for'discharging water from thecompartment 24 through either of the compartments 44 to a spout 54 onthe tub 10 or to a rinse tub.

In the operation of the device, the bar 26 in the container 32 is raisedand the clothes in the container are pressed against the plunger disc 36for extracting the water in the clothes and letting the water flowthrough the holes 58 in the bottom portion 28 of the container, andthence into the compartment or container 24.

For raising the container 32, I provide the following means:

On the upright post or the like 22 are rack teeth 60, which mesh withthe teeth of a pinion 62 on the shaft 19. On the shaft 19 is a ratchetwheel 64.

On the tub 10 is a pawl 66 normally held in engagement with the ratchetwheel 64 by means of a spring 68 for preventing such rotation of theratchet wheel as would permit the lowering of the upright post 22.

For rotating the ratchet wheel 64 and thus raising the post, I haveprovided the following mechanism:

Suitably mounted for rotation on the tub 10 is a shaft 7 0, which may beoperated from any suitable source of power, preferably that whichoperates the washing machine mechanism.

On the lower end of the shaft 70 is a crank arm 72 and crank pin 74. Thecrank pin 74 is pivoted to a reciprocating link 76. The link 76 ispivoted at one end to an upright bar 78. The bar 78 is mounted in itslower end to slide horizontally in a guide 80. At its upper end, the bar78 is pivoted to a strong, coil spring 82. One end of the spring 82 isconnected with a threaded rod 84 projected through a frame member 85 onthe tub 10.

On the rod 84 is a wing nut 86 for adjusting the tension of the spring82. Fixed to the bar 78 between the link 76 and spring 82 is anoperating pawl 88 arranged for cooperation with the ratchet wheel'64.

I will now explain briefly the operation of the particular mechanismhereinbefore described.

Assuming that the post 22 is at the lower limit of its movement, theplunger disc 36 is laid aside, the container member 32 is filled withwet clothes, for instance from the washing machine tub, the disc 36 isthen placed in position in the upper end of the member32 as shown inFigures 1 and 2.

The shaft 70 is then thrown into gear with its operating means, notshown, and its rotation actuates the crank 72 and the link 76 forreciprocating the lower end of the bar 73 and successively actuating theratchet wheel 64 for raising the upright post 22, the container 24 andthe container 32.

Since the disc 36 and stems 38 are held against upward movement, theclothes will be compressed in the container 32 and the water will runthroughthe holes 58 into the container 24, and thus be extracted fromthe clothes.

I find that clothes can be dried in this way as effectively as with awringer or centrifugal extractor. 1

In order to avoid accidents and automatically stop the pressure creatingmeans when the pressure has reached a certain predetermined point, Ihave provided the mechanism shown in Figure 3.

It will be noted that whenever the pressure necessary to actuate theratchet wheel 64 through the medium of the pawl 88 is so great as toovercome the tension of the spring 82, the reciprocation of the bar 78instead of further rotating the ratchet wheel 64 will stretch the spring82 and the pressure mechanism will become inoperative, so far asincreasing the pressure is concerned.

It is assumed that the containers will have been raised to a suflicientheight, so that the flexible tube 52 may discharge into the spout 54when the valve 48 is opened.

The shaft 70 is then thrown out of gear and by releasing the pawls 66and 88, the clothes container may be lowered slightly, the disc 36 maybe taken out of the container 32, and the clothes lifted from thecontainer, or the container 32 may be lifted off of the bottom 28 forremoving the clothes from which the water has been taken.

I have attempted in this application to show only crude embodiments of amechanism for practicing my invention.

In Figure 4, I have shown a slightly modified form of the actuatingmechanism for the shaft 19 and means for automatically stopping theincrease of pressure when a certain predetermined pressure has beenreached.

In the form of device shown in Figure 4, the pawl 88a is similar to thepawl 88, but is arranged to work above the ratchet wheel instead ofbelow. The pawl 88a is pivoted directly to the crank on the shaft 70.

For moving the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet when the pressurereaches a certain maximum, I provide an arm 90 pivoted at 92 to asupport 94.

A link 96 is pivoted at one end to the pawl 88a and at the other end tothe arm 90. A strong coil spring 98 is connected to the arm 90 at itsend opposite its pivot 92. The spring 98 is connected with a threadedrod 100, which is extended through a fixed support 102, and has on itthe adjusting wing nut 104.

Where the form of device shown in Figure 4 is used, there is providedinstead of the stem 38, a stem 106 having at its upper end an offsetportion 108 arranged below the arm 90 between the link 96 and the pivot92.

The other mechanism is the same as that shown in Figures 1 and 2.

When the pawl 88a has been operated for raising the container 32 untilthe pressure lSU reaches a certain point, the stem 106 will force thearm 90 upwardly, thus stretching the spring 98. This movement raises thepawl 88a, so that it will no longer be effective in impartingintermittent rotation to the ratchet wheel 64.

Either the device shown in Figure 3 or that shown in Figure 4 may beemployed for the purpose intended.

In Figure 5, I have shown a slightly modified form of my device in whichthere is provided a fixed cylindrical container 110 instead of thecontainer 32. Instead of the upright post 22, I provide an upright 112carrying at its upper end a plunger 114, fitting tightly in the lowerend of the cylinder 110.

A removable cover 116 is provided for the cylinder 110 and may befastened thereto in any suitable way not shown.

The upright 112 is operated in the manner hereinbefore described for thepost 22.

As the plunger 114 is raised, it compresses the clothes, squeezing thewater therefrom. The water passes out through openings 118 in the cover116 and thence by way of the drain trough 120 to the tub, or by way ofthe drain 122 to a rinsing tub or the like.

In Figure 6, I have shown another form of the device in which there is afixed bottom member 124 for the container and a hinged upper member 126adapted to be locked in its closed position when the extractingoperationis being performed.

The hinged member 126 may be swung over to the position shown in fulllines in Figure 6 and filled with garments and then swung over to itsdotted line position shown in that figure, and locked in closed positionby means not shown.

In the container bottom 124 is a perforated plunger 128. An upright 131extends from the plunger 128 through the bottom of the container 124 andthrough the stuifing'box L 130, and is then mounted in the same way asthe upright 22 and actuated in the same manner as the upright 22; v

The container 124 is arranged to drain into the tub 10.

Either of the devices shown in Figures 3 and 4 may be used with eitherof the forms illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. I

It is my purpose to provide, generally speaking, a means for extractingWater by simply squeezing the garments in a body in a container and toprovide means for stopping the further compressing operation when thepressure reaches a certain point.

These objects can be accomplished by a variety ofmechanisms and I haveshown the mechanisms here disclosed simply for purposes of illustration.

It is my purpose likewise to afford a process or method which involvesthe subjecting of the clothes in a container to pressure for extractingwater therefrom, and the stopping of the pressure at a predeterminedpoint.

It is my purpose in my claims to cover different process and to coverany equivalent form of mechanism to those shown, whereby my objects canbe properly attained.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an extractor ofthe kind described, a container having a foraminousbottom, a plunger mounted to enter the container, one of said elementsbeing mounted for movement relative to the other for squeezing waterfrom the contents of the container, mechanism for moving one of saidelements, means for rendering said mechanism inoperative when thepressure reaches a predetermined degree, a compartment below thecontainer for receiving the extracted water, means for discharging waterfrom opposite sides of said compartment, and an adjustable member forcooperating with said last means for causing adischarge at therespective sides of the compartment depending upon the position in whichsaid adjustable member is set.

2. In a device of the class described, a container having an open upperend, a member above the container, a plunger adapted to enter saidcontainer, a stem for said plunger, said member andstem having coactingslots and shoulders, whereby the stem may be detachably supported onsaid member at different heights and adjustably held against upwardmovement, means for moving said container upwardly for compressing thecontents thereof.

8. In a device of the class described, a container having a foramiousbottom, a plunger adapted to coact with said container, a com- .partmentbelow the bottom of said container for receiving water dischargedthrough said bottom, having an outlet, a valve for controlling saidoutlet, means for imparting movement to the container for compressingthe contents thereof in cooperation with the plunger, and an adjustablemember adapted to be set for moving said valve to open position when thecontainer is moved to a certain position.

4. In a device of the class described, a container having a foraminousbottom, a com partment arranged to receive water discharged through saidbottom, having an outlet, a valve for controlling said outlet, a plungeradapted to coact with said container, means for imparting relativemovement to the plunger and container, and means for actuating saidvalve for permitting discharge of liquid from the compartment when theparts'have moved to a certain position of their adjustment.

5. In a device ofthe class described, the combination of a washingmachine tub, a container mounted thereon for vertical adjustment, aplunger mounted for cooperation with said container, said containerhaving a foraminous bottom, and a water receiving compartmenttherebelow, and having an outlet, a valve "for controlling said outlet,means for discharging water from said outlet into said tub when thecontainer reaches a certain height, and means for raising said containerfor compressing the contents thereof by means of said plunger, and meansfor automatically opening said valve when the container is raised toproper height for discharging water from said compartment into said tub.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a washingmachine tub with a container mounted thereon for vertical slidingadjustment, said container having a toraminous bottom, a water receivingcompartment below said bottom, a plunger mounted for cooperation withsaid container, means for raising said container for compressing thecontents thereof by means of said plunger and means actuated by upwardmovement of the container for automatically discharging water from saidcompartment into said tub when the container reaches a certain height.

7. In a device of the class described, a container mounted for verticalreciprocation, a plunger supported for cooperation therewith, a pawl andratchet mechanism for raising said container, including an actuatingpawl, and means whereby said actuating pawl is rendered inoperative whenthe resistance thereto due to pressure in the container reaches acertain degree.

8. In a device of the class described, a con tainer having a foraminousbottom, a plunger mounted for cooperation therewith, means for impartingmovement to said container toward the plunger, said means including apawl and ratchet mechanism having an actuating pawl. an arm connectedwith said pawl, a yielding device connected with one end of said arm, apower device connected with the other end of said arm for reciprocatingthe arm, and the pawl, whereby when the resistance from the container isgreat enough to overcome the tension of said yieldiug device, saidactuating pawl will be rendered inoperative. V

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tub with anextractor mounted on the side of said tub for vertical sliding movement,adapted when down to stand substantially level with the tub, means forforcing the extractor upwardly and for thus extracting water from thecontents thereof, said extractor having a water containing compartmentat its lower end, said compartment having an outlet and a valve forcontrolling said outlet, means on the tub for actuating said valve whenthe extractor is in an upper position of movement, and means llb

